Whilst the cowboy covered his prisoner, Tari sped back to the boat for a length of rope, and Loyola and Jim knelt anxiously over the prostrate form of the rolling-stone.
"If he's killed him," began the boy hoarsely. "If he's killed him——" and there was murder in the small voice.
"No! no! no!" wailed the woman, as she chafed Jack's hands feverishly.
The thoughtful bluejacket, who had rushed to the water's edge after one glimpse of the purple face, reappeared with his cap full of water.
"We'll put life into him in less than no time," he exclaimed heartily, scattering the water over the rover's suffused countenance with a vigorous heave.
Tari made quick time to the boat and back, and he and Broncho between them trussed the discomfited Hawksley in a most scientific manner.
In vain his cunning tongue pleaded eloquently on his behalf. They paid no heed.
"I found that man kissing my wife," he began, a whole world of outraged justice in his oily tones.
"We found you stranglin' a blind man," replied Broncho sternly, as he clove-hitched the seizing on his prisoner's wrists.